| TPFR helps you catch snakehead! Late Summer 2021 Newsletter Powered by Fly Fishers International In this issue… Lots to cover in our late Summer TPFR newsletter. A new TPFR President, Beer ties are back, a TPFR member fishing trip, Late Summer 2021 Newsletter | In this issue…Lots to cover in our late Summer TPFR newsletter. A new TPFR President, Beer ties are back, a TPFR member fishing trip, Fletchers Cove Days, Skills Challenge updates, Four Mile Run Conservatory Kids Fishing Events and last but not least, tips to help you connect with snakeheads. | New TPFR Captain in the house…The Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders have been fortunate to have had great leaders focused on helping our members better enjoy flyfiishing in the VA/MD/DC area. Starting with our founder Dan Davala, next President Dalton Terrell and then President Art Noglak, all these guys have a passion for helping others enjoy flyfishing ingrained in their DNA and were ever-present at TPFR events. All are still active on the TPFR forum and are just as enthusiastic about fly fishing as ever. Regan Burmeister, our newest TPFR president, should be familiar to many of you already. Regan is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor and runs TPFR's Casting Church events as well as teaching casting for District Angling. He is skilled in both single and double handed fly rods and has taught countless anglers how to refine their casting. He is also on the FFI Board of Directors for the Chesapeake Council and has lots of ideas to continuje to grow the TPFR club. Please join us in welcoming him in his new role. And as always, if you have questions, reach out to us through the TPFR forum, contact us via social media or even ask us at our monthly TPFR casting church. Don't be shy, we want you to succeed. Stay healthy and tight lines! Your friends at Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders | | Snakeheads can be found in every tidal river of the Chesapeake Bay. While they prefer freshwater, they can inhabit saltier waters. For summer conditions, snakeheads prefer heavy cover and are often found in the heaviest cover in the shallowest water. Most times they prefer a roof over their heads. Shallow areas with spatterdock, hydrilla, and wood often hold fish. While snakeheads can also be found on outer points and pockets of grass beds, these areas can also be accessed by bowhunters so populations may be lower in these areas. For higher numbers of fish, focus on the shallowest of areas inaccessible to larger boats. Kayaks and small canoes are excellent for reaching such prime snakehead habitat. An excellent reference for snakehead fishing is the book "Fishing for Snakehead," by local expert Joe Bruce. | What Gear to Use for Casting Snakehead FliesFor snakehead fishing, use your bass rod - a 7wt to a 8wt rod with a floating line and a standard leader with a 0x tippet is fine. The heavier tippet will help turnover the wind resistant flies as well as hold up to the abrasive cover snakeheads prefer. Make sure you bring a net to control the fish once they are hooked since they don't stop fighting once they enter your boat. Besides pliers, bring jaw spreaders or a lip gripper to better control the fish when you are removing the hook. In case you get hooked by a thrashing fish, bring a sturdy pliers capable of cutting hooks. Also, towels are handy to wipe your hands after holding these excessively slimy fish. | Tying BenchEffective snake flies have to produce vibrations whether they are sliders/poppers or more finesse style flies. Both types should incorporate fibers that quiver or undulate underwater, especially when twitched. Since they are fished in or near heavy cover such as spatterdock, hydrilla or wood, flies need to be weedless. Flies are typically tied on 1/0 sized hooks. We have included a video that describes the various characteristics of effective snakehead lures and under which circumstances they are used. Depending on the area you are fishing and the snakehead triggers you are keying on, these will help you design your own effective snakehead flies. Great News! Beer Ties are back starting in September so keep an eye out on the TPFR Forum for more details. In the meantime, here are some useful videos to help you tie your very own snakehead flies. Need tying materials to create that killer fly? Your local fly shops carry a great selection of materials to help you put more fish in your boat. They also carry several great patterns in case you are in a hurry to get to the water. | Casting Corner – Casting Church Date Change and Useful Casts for SnakeheadsJoin us for the next Casting Church on Sunday, September 19th with modifications to maintain social distancing.Please note that for September, to accomodate Fletcher's Fest (see Potomac News for more information), Casting Church was moved to the third Sunday of the month. All skill levels are welcome! As always, we will have casting instructors available to help you if you are just starting out, refining your casting stroke, and even review casts, or talk gear that will help you catch snakeheads or any fish that swims. Until then, here are some good videos to help you accurately cast moderate sized, surface flies, up close or at distance, to that structure snakehead prefer. In addition, once the fish strikes, use a strip strike to set the hook. These are all important tools to make your fly fishing more successful and enjoyable. | Come join TPFR on the Big Gunpowder Falls River for a casual day of fishingWhen: Sunday, September 12th, 8 am-ish until whenever Where: Gunpowder Falls - Bunker Hill access point See attachment for details and directions. Hey all - we are planning a Gunpowder Fishing Day on the water with TPFR. The Gunpowder Fishing Day will be free form - show up, meet folks, chew the fat, go fish, and relax amidst the beautiful surroundings of the Gunpowder. While not intended to be a casting church, If you arrive before 10 am, some casting Instructors and the other usual suspects from the Sunday Casting Church will be on hand to help. If the Gunpowder Fishing Day is successful (meaning you attend) then we may add this type of event to TPFR a few times each year. If you haven't been to the Gunpowder Falls, this will be a fun way to fish this tailwater of the Pretty Boy Reservoir, just north of Baltimore and put some of those casting skills to use. For more information about Gunpowder Falls see the MD site. This gathering will follow the same guidelines for health and safety that we use for the Casting Churches and Beer Ties. As of August 21, 2021 neither the State of Maryland nor Baltimore County have mask requirements relevant to this event. Please use your best judgment for your personal safety and that of others, if you are ill or suspect you might be, rest up at home. | Taking the Fly Casting Skills ChallengeThree of our fellow TPFR members, Owen Williams (Silver level), Brook Rolter (Silver level) and Willian Bock (Bronze level), met all the requirements to meet the FFI Casting Skills Challenge award! In order to achieve this award, both Owen, Brook and William had to pass a series of casting challenges that included accuracy, distance, and roll casting. Mastery of these skills will allow them to better meet casting challenges wherever they may fish. Job well done! Next up, Owen and Brook will go for the Gold level and William will work towards the Silver level. Good luck! This FFI Casting Skills Challenge is open to all at any level and is a great way to assess and improve your casting skills. The skills are based on situations you would face on the water and include accuracy, roll casts, distance, loop control, etc. If you are interested, just let us know at the next Casting Church. The Casting Skills Challenge is open to all TPFR members. Don't worry if you can't make all the casts the first time. Our TPFR casting instructors are always ready to help you tune-up your casting skills. Remember, the better you can cast, the more fish you will catch and more fun you will have! | | Editors Note: Had a great fly fishing trip that you would like to share with TPFR members? Please send us your pictures from your recent trips at contact@tpfr.org. We would love to highlight them on TPFR social media. | Potomac River News Fletcher's Fest - Sunday, September 19th at Fletcher's Cove from about 9 am - 2 pm. This event is spponsored by NCC-TU. Events will include TPFR's "Casting church", a fly casting clinic open to all, from 8-11am. In addition, DC DOEE, courtesy of Chris Campo and Teresa Rodriguez, will be hosting a youth fishing clinic on the C&O canal. NCC-TU will be organizing a trash cleanup at the cove (and upstream/downstream about a half mile or so in either direction) and will provide trash bags and work gloves for volunteers. Lastly, there will be a prize ceremony/giveaway for the Tidal Potomac Slam winners around noon. All food and drinks will be BYOB. As the event is on National Park Service land, alcohol is prohibited. National Harbor River Cleanup – Saturday, 9/11 from 1pm – 4pm - Lean more. New Owner Of White's Ferry Pledges To Restart Service, Hints Eminent Domain May Be Needed To Acquire Landing - Learn more. Strasburg continues no drinking water restrictions amid the harmful algae bloom - Learn more. On Shenandoah River, algae and bacteria continue to plague recreation — and human health - Learn more. Four Mile Run Conservatory Kids Fishing Events 4MR Conservatory events introduce kids in Arlandria/Chirilagua area youth programs to 4MR nature, conservation, and fishing. The July event introduced a diversified group of twenty 6th through 8th graders to 4MR fishing. In August, another diversified group of ten 3rd through 6th graders leaped at the opportunity to fish. In spite of the oppressive heat and water conditions, a few kids in each event walked away with a photo of themselves and their first fish. 2021 is TPFRs second year supporting 4MR Conservatory events and our best volunteer turnout. Our TPFR volunteers' Brook Rolter, Josie Hendler, Erin Kimsey, Mark Yacobucci, and Daniel Sheets dedication and passion to assist were keys to keeping lines in the water and the overall success of these summer events. | Stability in an unstable worldSometimes in a topsy-turvy world, knowing there is someone you can count on makes a big difference in helping us weather changes. Our area has been very fortunate to have two very stable local flyshops ready to help you despite these changing times. So please consider purchasing your new gear from these local businesses which have supported you with top quality gear and helpful advice to make your fishing trips a success. These local stores are open for in-person shopping, or web-based orders. | | | |
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